MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falkland Islands government: “We wish to remain British”
“We wish to remain British and the sovereignty issue is not for negotiation” was the Falkland Islands government statement in response to last Saturday’s meeting in Chile of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
“Whilst Britain and the Falkland Islands have moved on to a new relationship based on democracy and self-determination, our Argentine neighbors remain in a time warp, still pressing their anachronistic claim to territorial sovereignty. In short, they wish to colonize the Falkland Islands”, points out the statement.
The two leaders met in Viña del Mar in the framework of the Progressive Governance conference and according to reports from both sides, 15 of the 35 minutes, on Argentine request, were absorbed by the Falkland Islands dispute.
Mrs. Kirchner demanded that the United Kingdom complies with United Nations resolutions calling for talks to find a solution to the sovereignty conflict, while PM Brown stated what he had advanced before reaching Chile, “there is nothing to discuss on the Falklands from our side” and emphasized the importance of self determination.
“Both sides agreed that they have differences of opinion”, said a Foreign Office official following the Saturday meeting.
Further on the statement underlines “we have been encouraged by the UK Government's clear and unshakeable position that the sovereignty issue is not for negotiation. There is no turning back from this.
”Falkland Islanders have expressed their views freely and unequivocally over many years. We wish to remain British. Our constitution enshrines the right to determine our own future. Surely no-one who supports democracy and human rights can oppose this?
”It is regrettable that 27 years after the Falklands War it is still necessary to spell this out once again to yet another Argentine leader who hasn't realized that the world has changed and countries cannot ride rough-shod over the right to self-determination of free people.
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Read all comments“Whilst Britain and the Falkland Islands have moved on to a new relationship based on democracy and self-determination, our Argentine neighbors remain in a time warp... ”
Mar 31st, 2009 - 07:01 am 0Remaining in a time warp seems to be a hispanic trait... when it suits them! We've had the problem for over 300 years now!
It's about time both Argentina and Spain matured, came into the 21st century and started to respect and accept the democratically expressed wishes of both the Falklands and Gibraltar in our respective expressions of self-determination!
My best wishes to our Falkland brothers in arms!
Saludos!
Cybernest
Blogging at A Gibo's Tale (http://agibostale.blogspot.com)
What a stupid “Thought” of Cybernest...! Invaders in Malvinas have repeated the same robotic phrase: “ The Self Determination ” since 1833. They think that they justify their ocupation repeting that. I live in Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego & South Atlantic Islands Province) and we were a penal colony (like in Autralia) now we are a prosperous province with 120.000 inhabitants.... Ushuaia the capital, the southermost city in the world and the door of Antartica... Stanley dont exist with the British Ocupation !!!!! It is a colonial enclave in the XXI Century ! For the world Malvinas are forever “Argentinian”.
Mar 31st, 2009 - 08:36 am 0Self determination will matter little to none when Britain seeks right compensation (natural resources) in return for the islands. Flaklands are perceived in England as a mine infested sheep farm that bring enormous costs to mantain. When the islands return to Argentina, Britain will no longer have an enemy, and I'm sure that in the deal they will include arms for Argentina... we will become customers for arms dealing, probably some intel will be performed by Brits to disturb Argentina and Chili relations too. I'll take some of those Tornados please, do they come in silver?
Mar 31st, 2009 - 09:28 am 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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